Automatic electromagnetic switch



Get. 21, 192

H. SUNDHAUSSEN AUTOMATIC ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCH Filed March 31 I ii Patented Oct. 21, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMANN SUNDHAUSSEN, OF ESSEN-ON-THE-RUHR, GERMANY, A$SIGNOR TO FRIED. KBUI'P AKTIENGESELLSGHAFT, OF ESSEN-ON-THE-RUHR, GERMANY.

AUTOMATIC ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCH.

Application filed March 31, 1921.

, Switches, of which the following is a specification.

The present lnvention relates to an automatic electromagnetic switch, in which the armature of an electromagnet is transferred by its tractive force from a position of readiness, which enables a locking device to intercept a releasing device, into an operative position which bridges over a gap in the circuit to be closed, as soon as the releasing device touches the locking device.

A constructional example of the subject matter of the invention is diagrammatically shown in the drawing in which:

Figure L is a view of the switch in its switched out position.

Figures 2 and 3are each views corresponding to Figure 1 with. certain parts in a different position.

The electromagnetic switch contains two contacts a and b, which are placed in a circuit to be closed by the switch. One of the contacts, a, is mounted on a member a which is fixed to the core A of an electromagnet provided with an exciting winding a and insulated therefrom. The other contact, 6 is mounted on and insulated from one end of a two-armed lever B B which forms the armature of the electromagnet and is pivotally mounted on the core A by the aid of a pin a. The arm B of the lever B B is provided with a rib 6 through which the lines of force pass over between the core A and the armature B B when the electromagnet is working. The two-armed lever B B is'under the action of a spring C, which is attached by one end to the core A and by the other end to the lever arm B and tends to rotate the lever B B in the direction of the arrow w.

' On the free end of the lever arm B is pivotleasing device Serial No. 457,315.

ture e of a small electromagnet, the core e of which is stationary. At the upper end of the locking device D is mounted a lug d which places itself on a stop a mounted on the core A, when the two-armed lever B B rotates in the opposite direction to that of the arrow m. The locking device D is acted on by a spring F, one end of which is attached to the lever arm B and the other end to the locking device D and tends to rotate it in the direction of the arrow 3 Supposing the circuit containing the contacts a and b is to be closed by the above described switch, the exciting winding a is first energized. The armature formed by the two-armed lever B B therefore begins to rotate under the action of the tractive force of the electro-magnet about the pin or, in the opposite direction to that of the arrow w. During this rotation the twoarmed lever B B moves out of its position of rest shown in Figure 1 into an intermediate position shown in Figure 2, in which the locking device D places itself with its lug d on the stop a and thereby prevents any further rotation of the two-armed lever B B By the hitherto described rotation of the two-armed lever B B the locking device D (see Figures 1 and 2) is lowered to such an extent that now the tongue d, which was previously in a position of rest outside the path of the releasing device E, assumes a position, in which it lies in the path of the releasing device E. The above mentioned intermediate position of the lever B B therefore constitutes a position of readiness. If during this position of the parts the exciting winding belonging .to the electromagnet e e be transitorily energized say-by the swing of a pendulum (not shown) for example, the releasing ,device E rotates under the action of the tractive force of this electro-magnet in a clockwise direction in opposition to the action of the spring 6 and thereby strikes against the tongue d of the locking device D. As soon as this is the case the locking device D is rotated against the action of the spring 'of the arrow 3 The.rotation takes place with very great rapidity, as the tractive force of the electro-magnet with the considerably smaller air ap between the rib b of the armature B g2 and the core A is much greater than loefore, and the contacts 6 and a pass accordingly very quickly into contact with each other (Figure 3). The lever B B now assumes its operative 'po sition, in which by the contact of the contacts a and b the circuit to be closed is closed. As at the instantof touching of the contacts a and b and for the further duration of the excitation of the winding-a the exciting winding a is cut ofi from its source of current.,(not shown). The exciting winding a will accordingly be de-engized, and'the electro-magnet A loses its will therefore be rotated by the sprin power of attraction. The armature B B5 out of the operative position shown in igure 3 in the direction of the arrow at until it assumes again the position of rest illustrated in Figure 1. Further the locking device D will also be brought during the last mentioned rotation of the double lever B B after sliding past the stop a back into the angular position with relation to the lever arm B under the action of the spring F. As'furthermore the electro-magnet a which .was only temporarily ener gized, has also lost its tractive force again, the releasing device E has also returned under the action of the spring a into the angular position shown in Figure 1 and all the parts therefore again take up the position from which the description 015 the action of the apparatus was commenced.

in the switch which forms the subject matter of the present invention the movement of a single member (the double lever B B produces both the bringing u of the locking device I) into its position 0 readiness and also effects the cldsing of the circuit to be closed. This ensures for the electro-magnetic switch here in ouestion a particularly simple and accessible construction and enables consequently to obtain a very fine adjustment and great reliability of action of the switch. A further important advantage or the subject matter of the invention follows from the "fact that the force which tends to effect the touching of the two contacts increases very rapidly as the two contacts approach each other and that bound ensures however i that the current flowing through the contacts suflers no interruption by such rebound and its 1ncrease is therefore dependent only on the.

electrical magnitudes which control it i. e. voltage and resistance of the circuit. Auto: matic electromagnetic switches with the above mentioned advantages are of particular importance where for example it is required to energize by means of an automatic switch the winding of a relay the (previusly determined) delay of which must not suiier any change whatever.

A particularly suitable automatic switch is provided if the movable contact 6 be resiliently mounted on its carrier which is formed by the lever arm B, as by; this means the wear of the contacts which strike against each other with great rapidity is considerably reduced.

Claims.

1. An automatic electromagnetic switch comprising a fixed and a movable switch element, an electrom'agnet, an armature for said elect-romagnet pivotally mounted and influenced by said electromagnet, said armature carrying said movable switch element, a locking device for holding said armature in open circuit position, said looking device embodying a locking lever pivotally secured to said armature and a releasing device for displacing said locking arm, said locking arm being situated in the path of said releasing device when said armature is in its open circuit latched position.

2. An automatic electromagnetic switch comprising an electromagnet, a double armed lever pivoted theretoand forming the armature of said electromagnet, a contact carried by one end of said double armed lever and adapted to engage a stationary contact for completing the circuit to be closed, 'a locking device for said double armed lever for holding said lever in open circuit position, said locking device including an arm pivoted to the other end of said double armed lever and a releasing devic for displacing said last mentioned arm, sai last mentioned arm being situated in the path of said releasing device when said double armed lever assumes its open circuit latched position.

3. automatic electromagnetic switch comprising an electromagnet, a double armed lever pivoted thereto and forming the armature of said electromagnet, a contact carried by one end of said double armed lever and a contact carried by said electromagnet and adapted upon engagement to complete the circuit to be closed, a locking device for holding said double armed lever in open circuit position, said locking device including an arm pivotally mounted upon the other end of said double armed lever, a stop carried by said electromagnet and adapted to be engaged by a lug carried by said arm and means tending to rotate said arm to cause said lever to engage said stop and a releasing device for rotating said arm against the action of said last mentioned means to release said locking device, said arm being situated in the path of said releasing means when said double armed lever assumes its open circuit latched position.

4. An electromagnetic switch comprising an electromagnet, a doublearmed lever sea cured thereto and forming the armature of said electromagnet, switch contacts carried by said magnet and one end of said double armed lever respectively for completingthe circuit to be closed, a locking device for intercepting the movement of said double armed lever and retaining the same in open circuit position, said locking device embodying a stop carried by said electromagnet, an

-arm pivot-ally secured to the other end of said double armed lever, said arm bein formed with a catch for engaging sai stop, spring means tending to rotate said arm to a position whereby said catch will engage said stop and an electrically operated releasing'device for swinging said arm against the action of said spring means for disengaging said locking device, said arm being situated in the path of said releasing device when said double armed lever assumes its open circuit latched osition.

The foregoing specification si e at Essen, Germany, this 7th day 0 February, 1921.

HERMANN sUNnHAUssEN. 

